Ravalli, Montana


Ravalli is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Lake County, Montana, United States. The population was 76 at the 2010 census, down from 119 at the 2000 census. At one time Charlie Allard, the country's leading expert on breeding bison, owned the country's largest herd of buffalo in Ravalli.

History

A post office called Ravalli was established in 1887 and remained in operation until 1983. The community was named for Antonio Ravalli, a Jesuit missionary to the Indians.

Geography

Ravalli is located in southern Lake County at , at the junction of U.S. Route 93 and Montana Highway 200, at the bottom of a big hill near the National Bison Range. US 93 leads north to Polson, the Lake county seat, and south to Missoula. MT 200 leads west to Dixon.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of, of which, or 0.42%, are water. The community is in the valley of the Jocko River, which flows northwest to the Flathead River at Dixon.

Climate

This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ravalli has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 119 people, 48 households, and 30 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 44.8 people per square mile. There were 52 housing units at an average density of 19.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 71.43% White, 27.73% Native American, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.72% of the population.
There were 48 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.7% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the CDP, the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $26,750, and the median income for a family was $29,688. Males had a median income of $4,750 versus $32,708 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,094. There were 16.0% of families and 24.0% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.